Companies with excess labor outnumbered those with shortages in August by the widest margin since May 2000, according to a government survey.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said its quarterly survey shows that the index on the ratio of companies with a labor shortage to those with excess labor worsened to minus 10 from minus 6 in its previous survey for May.

The index is calculated by subtracting the percentage of companies saying they have too many workers from those saying they do not have enough. A negative reading indicates more companies felt they had an excess.

After posting minus 15 in November 1999, the index gradually improved until it fell to minus 4 in February from minus 2 in the previous survey.

In the construction sector, the index fell 8 points to minus 23, while it dropped 6 points to minus 26 in the manufacturing sector, the ministry said.

The index for the wholesale, retail and catering sectors fell to minus 2 from zero, showing the first signs of a labor surplus since February.

On a job category basis, excess labor levels grew among management and clerical positions as well as unskilled workers, while the index for skilled workers fell to minus 4 from zero.

The latest survey was conducted Aug. 1. It is based on questionnaires sent to 5,342 firms employing 30 or more workers, of which 57 percent responded.

Of the respondents, 26 percent said they conducted labor adjustments during the April-June quarter, up 3 percent from the previous survey. Of that group, 14 percent said they restricted overtime work.

Eight percent of respondents said they had made job changes, 6 percent said they had sent staff on external assignments and 5 percent had reduced or suspended midcareer recruiting.